12/28/08

Best service and dining atmosphere in Davis Sq

by mysteryirishdiner

I have frequented Orleans bar and restaurant on many occasions for food and beer and have yet to be disappointed. Last night was no different. We arrived in a party of six and we were promptly seated by the very friendly hostess were greeted at our table by our server and had our drinks in no time. The DJ had his music at just the right decibel to create a good vibe and buzz to put us in our mood for our night out.The food was very tasty and well presented and our drinks were always full. As the kitchen closed our server finished and the cocktail waitress took us over.She never once passed our table without checking our drinks and as our party grew to 8 people she accommodated us very well.Her personality and prompt service was all around fantastic. I would highly recommend Orleans to anyone with all the local near by locations for entertainment and it is just steps from the train.

• Pros: Great Food,service and atmosphere

08/26/08

Awful service, awful times, over priced.

by cawillwe

You'd expect this place to be good based on the hip look. The first time I went there, I had bad service. Food was ok, but not worth the price. Second time - bad service, ok food. Third time - bad service (although this time, the hostess seemed alright), bad food (some salmon omelet that was lukewarm).

Three strikes, and they're out. I live 100 yards from this place and will never go there again.

• Pros: cool seats
• Cons: service, food, prices

08/01/08

There's no spicy jambalaya at this relaxed Davis Square hangout, just high-quality, upscale comfort cuisine.

by Eric Grossman

The Scene
The curiously-named Orleans offers very little in the way of New Orleans ambience. The understated restaurant features a small bar, an expansive seating area and an informal lounge complete with comfy sofas. Youthful, attentive waiters patrol the dining area with carafes of water, ever alert for glasses in need of a refill.

The Food
Don't expect Emeril-ized Cajun or Creole cooking. But Orleans's lengthy menu does offer a bounty of above-average New American fare, including inventive salads, filling pasta dishes and hearty cuts of meats and fish. Start with the flavorful arugula salad, but be careful not to let the massive circle of warmed goat cheese overpower the rest of the dish. Health-conscious diners should opt for the tasty roasted swordfish, which rests comfortably on a fluffy bed of fresh, minty couscous. No meal here is complete without a capper of sinful chocolate-banana bread pudding.

09/04/07

Maybe good for regulars not expecting much

by leilze

I found Orleans online & was intrigued by the Lobster Ravioli & patio seating. Once there I was told the patio was closed, no surprise since there were only 3 more hours of service. I ordered an Alsace Pinot Gris that I had been wanting to try. The server started w/ the cork w/o showing the label then poured a full pour w/o a taste. It was room temp. I learned something, Trimbach is OK room temp. The menu showed no Lob Rav. The site had not caught up w/the menu. So, I can't sit where I want, can't order the food I want & I'm drinking warm white wine. I felt like I was in Comminist Russia.

Not impressed, but I will go back as it is close & everyone has an off day. I would also like to see if it can indeed get any worse. Red Sox be damned!!!

• Pros: Close to T stops, walkable, young attractive beautiful people
• Cons: Bad service

02/13/07

Orleans is not NEW Orleans!

by tt02144

Orleans is a great local bar/restaurant. Just to clarify previous reviews...it's not named after NEW Orleans, it's name is for Orleans, MA on Cape Cod where the owners have another restaurant. That's why their menu is not slanted toward Cajun food! The staff is great, very friendly and the food is wonderful!

07/06/06

A place with something for everyone

by johnborek

Over the years Davis Square has emerged from border line criminal neighborhood, to a semi-hip square. One of the reasons why Davis Square rocks is Orleans.

Orleans has only been in Davis for about 5 but is vital to it's life. Unlike the more mainstream restaurants and bars on the main strip of Davis, Orleans attracts a different more sophisticated crowd - both to dine and drink.

The food at Orleans can be best discribed as a mixture of American Bistro and Neavou Italian. Menu is filled with tender steaks, exquisite seafood, but also tasty sandwiches, pastas and pizzas.

It is important to mention that Orleans serves its extended bar menu until midnight, which is perfect when you're hungry late at night and you're looking for something decent to eat. The late-night bar menu is not just fries and nachos (although they have that too), but also variety of sandwiches and pizzas.

Outside an outstanding dining experience, Orleans is also a great neighborhood bar, perfect for hanging out on weeknights. It is relaxed and friendly and it's really easy to make friends with staff and bartenders.

Between Thursday and Saturdays, Orleans turns to packed party joint after about 10 o'clock. Usually there is a dj, whom can actually get the crowd in the party mood. The best part is that you can always choos to shmooz either by the bar, at the high tables, in the booths, the dining tables or on the comfortable couches in the lounge.

There is something there fore everyone.

• Pros: Spacious, different seating arrangements, outdoor patio

06/29/06

Not what I expected

by ilov2eat

We walked in and couldn't figure out if we were to wait to be seated or seat ourselves. The entertainment was on and off. The live "DJ" should not have been doing sound checks and whatever else he was up to during dinner. As for the service, well our waitress was M.I.A. after we received our drinks. Our entree "Pizza" took so long, my companion inquired as to whether or not they sent our for the dough. The best part of the evening was the appetizer... thats it!!

• Pros: ambience, convenience
• Cons: service, food

05/30/06

No longer a hidden gem

by bigvern

fun place to go and enjoy great food in a casual atmosphere, always great for red sox games. barstaff can whip it back when approached rudely but generally are friendly and helpfull. Always a good cocktail list and patio during the summer can get pretty hectic.

• Pros: menus, bar/service, sports/ambience
• Cons: a/c

04/10/06

Brunch, Dinner, Drinks

by will1968

I've been to Orleans for Bruch, Lunch, Dinner and drinks. It's a spectacular restaurant, with great vibe, fun atmosphere, and very friendly staff. Whenever I go for dinner or any type of a meal I'm treated like I would be in any downtown location, or even better. But at the same time, whenever I'm hanging out at the bar, the staff is relaxed, friendly and chatty. At night, on the weekends, the place gathers a quite an eclectic crowd. Orleans is a great and classy alternative to Joshua Tree or other places in Davis Sq.

• Pros: brunch, dinner, drinks

12/04/05

Cozy place for cold winter months

by wodzu

Went to Orleans again last night and they have all the holiday decorations out. It somehow fits the place and it feels like a fun and cozy place to be when it's cold outside. As usual, the food was great, they got few more pizza's on the menu (my favorite is still the one with argula and carmelized onions). The place was full, but not packed. It looked like there was a few holiday parties going on so the ambiance in the venue was cheerful.

• Pros: music, lounge, sangria
• Cons: only open till 1 AM